Description

In 2009, Lucas Vernier leaves for Syria accompanied by his camera and the photographs taken by his grandfather when he was a member of the Camel Corps during the French Mandate. As a diligent young filmmaker, he generously records his journey, reconstitutes his grandfather’s route and binds to the descendants of his friends. In 2011, Lucas returns to continue his quest. This year, the country rises and the regime of Bashar al-Assad goes ahead with violent repressions. The film turns around and the pursuit towards a disappeared ancestor will turn into a race towards what is going to disappear.

Director Biography – Lucas Vernier

After history and film studies, Lucas Vernier focuses on documentary filmmaking. His films, which all take his personal story as a starting point, then revolve around his research and encounters. His first feature-length documentary, “Behind the Yellow Door”, plays on an imaginary post-mortem meeting with his former neighbour, Lutz Dille, an eccentric photographer written off by the history of the art. “Ahlan wa sahlan” documents a journey begun in Syria in 2009.

Credits

Lucas Vernier
Director

Lucas Vernier
Writer

Fabrice Marache
Producer

Marie-Pomme Carteret
Editor

Jean-Marc Shick
Dubbing mixer

Specifications

Project Title (Original Language): Ahlan wa sahlan
Project Type: Documentary
Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes 35 seconds
Completion Date: March 17, 2020
Country of Origin: France
Country of Filming: Jordan, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Kingdom
Language: Arabic, English, French
Shooting Format: 1920×1080
Aspect Ratio: 1 :85 :1
Film Color: Color
First-time Filmmaker: No
Student Project: No